IceHogs News

The IceHogs can only pick up one point on the three-game weekend. (Photo by Ross Dettman)

Four even-strength goals bury Hogs in final game before Christmas break

Rosemont, Ill.- The Chicago Wolves sent the Rockford IceHogs home without any Christmas presents on Sunday at the Allstate Arena. Jack Skille scored Rockford's only goal in the 4-1 loss.The Wolves took an early advantage thanks to an unassisted goal from Spencer Machacek at 1:42 in the first period. The goal came after a 20-minute power outage delayed the game just one minute in.

In the second, former IceHogs defenseman Tyson Marsh gave the Chicago Wolves the 2-0 advantage 59 seconds into the second period. Marsh blasted the puck past Antti Niemi with helpers from Jeff Hamilton and Brett Sterling for his first goal with Chicago.
But Skille found a loose puck in front of Ondrej Pavelec at 6:02 and chipped it into the goal to cut the Wolves' lead in half. Tim Brent earned an assist on the power-play marker.

Joe Motzko scored his sixth goal against the IceHogs this season at 11:46 with a helper from Sterling to give the Wolves the two-goal advantage again.

And Colin Stuart tacked on an insurance marker at 2:23 in the third with helpers from Steve Martins and Machacek.

Niemi finished with 29 saves, while Pavelec had a strong 23 saves in his American Hockey League return. The Hogs held the Wolves off of the board on five power-play opportunities, while scoring in one of three chances.

Next Home Game: Friday, Dec. 26 vs. Chicago Wolves. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. The IceHogs Wolves match-up in a post-Christmas showdown at the Rockford MetroCentre. Come dressed in your ugliest Christmas sweater and you could walk away with round trip airline tickets courtesy of Allegiant Airlines to Tampa, Fla. and a pair of tickets to see the Chicago Blackhawks play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 17 in Tampa.